Apple Reportedly Working on Redesigned Apple TV Remote

Rumors that Apple intends to launch a new Apple TV have been around for some time, with the headlining feature being a more powerful processor for gaming and all-round performance benefits. However, alongside a new powerful chip, new evidence is pointing towards a possible new ‌Apple TV‌ remote also shipping alongside the TV set-top box.

apple tv remote 2
According to a report from 9to5Mac, citing people familiar with Apple's plans, the company has been developing a new ‌Apple TV‌ remote under the codename "B519," which differs from the current "B439" codename for the existing remote. Specifics on what to expect from the new remote aren't provided; however, 9to5Mac believes the changes will be "significant."

The last time Apple updated the remote was with the ‌Apple TV‌ 4K in 2017, when the company added a white border around the Menu button. However, the remote has remained unchanged since, while its slimline design and lack of physical navigation buttons continues to divide users.

MacRumors recently discovered that within the tvOS 14.5 beta, Apple has renamed the remote from "Siri Remote" to "‌Apple TV‌ Remote" in multiple instances across the system. The system-wide change in wording could indicate that the new remote will have less of a focus on ‌Siri‌ and instead be designed around more traditional content navigation and other TV functionality.

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Top Rated Comments

MacFather Avatar
54 months ago
Best remote Apple ever designed.

Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
x5tuu Avatar
54 months ago
I really don't get the hate for the remote at all - we have 4 apple TVs in the house all with the touch remote and everyone uses them without any problem at all (including a tech-averse wife and our 6yr old) and for most of those rooms they have become the primary remote that is used. The remote is possibly the simplest piece of 'just works' tech that I have seen in a long while.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LeeTom Avatar
54 months ago
Thank god. Either the touch is half baked in hardware or it just doesn’t work. Would love an all-button remote.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
breather Avatar
54 months ago
Just as long as it has a Mute Button.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Juicy Box Avatar
54 months ago

I don’t understand why anyone even uses the remote. Not becuse it’s bad but because your phone is almost always at hand, not lost down the back of the sofa and just seems like an easier alternative.
At least for me, the Remote app on the iPhone takes most of the bad stuff about the Siri Remote such as lack of physical buttons, a sudo D-Pad, no mute, and then double downs on it with no physical buttons, no D-pad, and no volume buttons.

Basically making the experience on the Remote app much worse than so-so experience with the Siri Remote.

Plus.......

your phone is almost always at hand
Mine is not.

When I am home, I hardly touch my iPhone. At home, I much rather use a Mac or ATV for anything I would normally do with an iPhone while not at home.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BMox81 Avatar
54 months ago
No issues with the remote in our house. My daughter loves using it now.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)